ASIAN FENCING CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE ORGANIZED YEARLY
In compliance with the Rules of the Federation Internationale D'Escrime, the FCA will henceforth organize an annual zonal championships, even in the year where the Asian Games is held. This zonal championships for Asia, commonly known as the Asian Fencing Championships will be held within the months of July and August of each year, (except on the year of the Olympic Games when the AFC will be held in conjunction with the Asian Olympic Qualifier which is usually in the month of April).
In view of this, fencers from Asia and the Oceania will no longer be at a disadvantaged in the seeding for the World Championships as the points earned in the AFC will be considered in the computation of their FIE world ranking.
FENCING CONFEDERATION OF ASIA (FCA)
Is New Name of Asian Fencing Confederation
The Asian Fencing Confederation has changed its name to: FENCING CONFEDERATION OF ASIA (FCA ). This decision was approved during the AFC General Assembly held on August 21, 2007 in Nantong China .
The proposal was aimed at avoiding confusion on the use of the acronym AFC which is confused with the Asian Football Confederation, and also with our own Asian Fencing Championships. This change takes effect immediately.
FCA CALENDAR OF EVENTS RATIONALIZED
Starting in 2009 and every year thereafter, the two official FCA competitions will follow a standard sequence. All Asian Juniors and Cadets Fencing Championships will be held on the first half of each year, while the Asian Fencing Championships will always be scheduled on the second half of each year (except during the year of the Asian Games when no Asian Fencing Championships is organized).
This decision follows the sequence of annual competitions by the FIE, and is aimed at rationalizing the timing of the FIE ranking points to be earned by our fencers from this continental championships.
HOSTS OF FCA COMPETITIONS SELECTED
TWO YEARS IN ADVANCE
In a precedent setting decision made by the FCA General Assembly, the hosts / organizers of future Asian Juniors and Cadets Fencing Championships and the Asian Fencing Championships will now be selected two years in advance. This will give the winning bidders more time to prepare for their hosting of our competitions which have already become bigger in terms of number of participants and the cost of organization.
Morover, all future hosts will now have to undertake and sign a Memoradum of Agreement with the FCA President at least one year prior to their scheduled hosting. The MOA will include all the conditions for hosting the event, and specify the responsibilities and obligations of the hosts, the FCA, and the FIE (if any).
FCA WAIVES ANNUAL FEES OF NEW MEMBERS
All Asian fencing federations that will join the FCA will not be charged the annual membership fees for three years upon their date of acceptance to the FCA. This is in keeping with the current practice of the FIE, and is also aimed at encouraging all fencing federations to participate in FCA activities and events.
MEMBERS WITH UNPAID DUES TO RETAIN MEMBERSHIP WITH FCA
As proposed by FCA President Dayrit, any member federation which is unable to pay its annual membership dues for three consecutive years will retain its membership with the FCA and be allowed to have their fencers participate in all FCA competitions and activities.
The FCA General Assembly approved the proposal with the following conditions: that the federation concerned will not have the right to vote in any election or meeting; will not have the right to have its officers occupy any elective or appointive position in the FCA; its attendance will not be considered in the quorum of the meetings; and, will not have the right to organize or host any FCA competition. The suspension of the above stated rights and privileges can be lifted only after one year from the actual settlement of the member's obligation to the FCA.
COMPETITION ENTRY FEES TO BE ADOPTED
IN ALL FCA CHAMPIONSHIPS
In a move to ensure the presence of the required number of qualified FIE licensed referees, all participating fencers in the Asian Juniors and Cadets Fencing Championships and the Asian Fencing Championships will now have to pay the relevant competition entry fees to the organizers / host.
In turn, participating federations will no longer be required to bring along their “accompanying team referees” and will thus spend less to participate in the competitions.
The FCA (in consultation with the FIE if necessary) will invite the selected referees and the corresponding cost of air tickets, accommodation and indemnities will be handled by the host and the FCA.